President Javier Milei is traveling to Washington, D.C. after facing backlash for endorsing the ‘$LIBRA’ cryptocurrency. His schedule includes high-profile meetings with Elon Musk and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, as well as participation in the CPAC conference. Economy Minister Luis Caputo is optimistic about finalizing an IMF financing agreement during the visit.
President Javier Milei will travel to the United States post-midnight on Wednesday following backlash over his promotion of the ‘$LIBRA’ cryptocurrency. His visit will predominantly involve attending the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington D.C., where he plans to meet significant figures, including Elon Musk and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.
A flight departing early Thursday morning will take Milei and a small team, including Economy Minister Luis Caputo and other key officials, to Washington. They are expected to arrive around 10am Buenos Aires time. Meetings with Musk and Georgieva are planned for later that day, with Caputo also participating in the discussion focused on IMF negotiations.
Caputo is optimistic about finalizing a new financing agreement with the IMF, suggesting that the terms are nearly set aside from the amount. He stated, “We are at the final stage. The only thing left to negotiate is the amount. The economic terms are already fully agreed.” Milei’s cryptocurrency endorsement led to significant turmoil, prompting him to retract his statements after a dramatic fluctuation in ‘$LIBRA’ token value.
On Friday, Milei will present a speech at the Inter-American Development Bank about the Argentine economic model and is slated to meet with World Bank President Ajay Banga. His final engagement in DC will be at CPAC, where he will speak on Saturday, just ahead of Donald Trump.
Though no formal meeting between Milei and Trump has been arranged due to the US administration’s protocol for new presidents, an informal interaction remains a possibility. Additionally, Milei’s administration aims to initiate discussions for a free trade agreement with the US and explore governance reforms with Musk.
This trip marks Milei’s second visit to the US within 30 days after attending Trump’s inauguration in January. He will return to Buenos Aires Sunday morning after leaving Washington on Saturday night.
Milei’s upcoming trip to the United States involves strategic meetings aimed at mitigating the fallout from his cryptocurrency promotion. By engaging with influential figures and participating in conferences, Milei hopes to stabilize Argentina’s economic outlook and further diplomatic relations with the US. The trip also emphasizes his government’s aspirations for trade agreements and governance reforms.
Original Source: www.batimes.com.ar
